Junior Development Program
In addition to the two annual live-in camps which may be attended by any young athlete who is a member of Eventing NSW, training for the sport will be offered to horse-athlete combinations that have obtained QUALITY performance at Introductory, Preliminary or Pre-Novice level at events in NSW.
Athletes will be accepted into a Junior/Young Rider Development Squad in one of four areas of NSW (Central: Sydney, South: ACT/Berrima, North: Quirindi, West: Orange/Dubbo)
Each Group will have its own appointed coach and a coordinator who will help to arrange ground hire, coach accommodation, facilities for athletes and liaise with the coach and committee.
Development Squad athletes will be offered a training program over two 2-day clinics in a year, during the Autumn and Spring school holidays; some clinic time at the Eventing Winter School may also be available to those athletes short-listed to represent NSW in Pre-Novice and 1-Star teams..
The Squad program is NOT expected to replace regular on-going private instruction, but has been created to provide access to additional information, group coaching (in itself an excellent educational opportunity especially for athletes who normally work/train in isolation), and the experience of riding in a team environment.
Instruction will include goal setting, planning the Eventing program, horse fitness and general management procedures, trot-up protocols, presentation, course walks, dealing with officials and the media. At the same time personal development will be addressed, including personal fitness, cardio respiratory endurance, core stability, flexibility, correct diet and hydration. Issues regarding drugs and alcohol and procedures for notification of medications will be discussed.
Squad Selection 2010
Foundation Development squad athletes were invited on the basis of their 2009 performance where the criterion for selection was:
A minimum of three completions as a horse-athlete combination at the level of application (ie. Introductory, Preliminary or Pre Novice) in official competition with:
(a) 50% or above in dressage phase,
(b) Clear of cross country jumping penalties,
Athletes in the West squad were considered on fewer quality performances at official competition as there are fewer official competitions for these athletes.
Squad Selection 2011
Performance criteria will be changed for 2011, to ensure that all the best combinations are picked up in a squad. It is likely that they will be extended to include YOUNG RIDERS (to the year in which they turn 21) as well as JUNIORS from Introductory to Star levels who are not picked up in Senior NSWIS squad training.
Selection will be on the basis of quality performances. A quality performance is considered to be a final score of less than 60 penalty points. Riders competing at lower levels will require more quality performances at this level than riders competing (say) at PN or 1*. The exact criteria will be published here before the end of 2010.
Any athlete who is consistently unable to establish a squad qualifying performance at any level (including 1*) should consider taking the horse to a lower grade in order to be eligible for the squad. Athletes continually unable to obtain minimum qualifications at their level of competition can request advice from the EvNSW Jnr Squad Committee or the appropriate district/area coach.
Athletes may decline an invitation to join the squad clinics, and non-involvement in the Development Squad should have no bearing on selection for the Junior Squad or State Teams. It is acknowledged that alternative coaching arrangements, school or logistical reasons can affect this decision and it allows for other juniors to participate. Selected athletes will be advised personally and listed on the EvNSW website. Any athlete who meets the criteria and who is not listed is welcome to apply to join a squad as omission could be due to clerical error, likewise athletes who meet the criteria before the program starts are also invited to apply for inclusion.
Development Squad Clinics
The program will be delivered over two 2-day clinics and training will be directed towards participation in three-day events at Pre Novice and 1-star and for State Junior and Young Rider teams. However, It is not expected that every athlete will be aiming for national or state representation as the training will provide a basis for their future in the sport, be it as an administrator, volunteer, coach, breeder, trainer, competitor, vet nurse, groom or indeed any job after school.
Training will be on a user-pays basis and is expected to cost approx $150 for a 2-day self-catered camp.
Athletes in each of the Development Squads will be encouraged to compete cross country at events in Squad saddle cloths identifying membership of their Area Junior & Young Rider Development Squad to encourage the concept of a team performance. Points will be collected for each squad on the basis of 1 point for every "quality" performance (final score of less than 60 penalty points) and 2 points for every "high quality" peformance (final score of less than 50 penalty points). Results of the Point Score and notification of Quality Junior Results will be published on the Ev NSW website after each competition.
Each athlete will eventually be paired with a “Mentor” from regular Senior competitors, and/or Young Riders who have competed at CCI events at 1* & 2**, who do not normally compete more than 2 horses at any event, and who are prepared and able to volunteer help. Allocation of mentors can be by mutual agreement or with assistance of the area/district coach or member of the Junior Committee of EvNSW. For instance, a Mentor could be an athlete’s usual coach, or, as is often the case due to the pressures on professional riders at events, a suitable alternative person.
Athletes’ progress at events will be assisted by their Mentor and followed up with their Area Coach and together these people will be responsible for charting their progress up the grades safely and with quality performances. It is anticipated that these young athletes will provide a source of help to their mentors at CCI events, making a mutually agreeable partnership.
Squad Coaches
Nominations for squad coaching positions will be advertised in November each year. Each coach will be available for the two squad schools and be prepared to follow their athletes’ progress during the year in liaison with their mentors. The Development Squad coaches are not expected to be a replacement for an athlete’s private coach, but will work with a rider to help identify areas that need work, and to provide direction and assistance in improving access to appropriate, quality training. Squad coaches have been selected on the basis of their wide-ranging experience in all aspects of managing a career in Eventing – not just riding success.
§ The coach for the North Squad for 2010 will be Jennifer Irvine-Brown, the coordinator will be Bronwyn Farr.
§ The coach for the South Squad for 2010 will be Peter Gillis, the coordinator will be Tanya Morgan.
§ The coach for the Sydney Squad for 2010 will be Karen Tinney, the coordinator will be Andrea Webb (Junior Committee).
§ The coach for the West Squad for 2010 will be Carlene Barto, the coordinator will be Charles Tym.
Additional Area Squads may be created when and if the need is identified, and open communication with Squad coaches and co-ordinators is welcomed and encouraged.
Enquiries regarding Development Squads:
Camilla Mowbray Ph: 9653 2844 E: cmowbray@bigpond.com
Norm Hindmarsh Ph: 6767 1404 E: scwarmbloods@yahoo.com
Penny Rose Ph: 4464 2384 E: pennyrose@bigpond.com
General Requirements
· Athletes must be members of both Eventing NSW and Equestrian Australia.
· Both squads will be made up of horse and athlete combinations with "quality" performance at the level of application as determined from the eligibility criteria.
· All squad athletes must adhere to the EA Code of Conduct and the FEI Welfare of the Horse at all times and own his/her copy of the National Eventing Rules and Dressage Tests which should be available to them at all events and clinics.
· All squad members will be required to submit a plan for 2010 Events. The plan should include information regarding what they hope to achieve and what levels/qualifications they will be striving obtain and will be required to provide a Resources folder which should be kept with them at all times.
· Team members will be required to support one another.
· All squads will be run on a user-pays basis although sponsorship will be actively sought to help with costs.
· Any athlete caught drinking alcohol at any competition or clinic will lose his/her position for the year.
Promotion of Program
The program will be promoted through The Eventer and regular reports to lift the profile of the squads will be submitted for inclusion.
Opportunities exist for Area Squad sponsorships by way of saddle cloths with sponsors' logos and squad identying logos.
Assistance by way of assistance to the various Area Coordinators (e.g. for athlete welfare and catering) can be addressed directly to the Committee.
"Quality" results will be publcised in the News section of this website.
